Perhaps the abuser doesn't see what he does as hurtful. What if he sees his actions as an act of love, just an expression of love?

honestly, it takes a fool not to know when hes abusing his girl. the first time you see her cry and its not because shes sad, theres a problem.

lol trueee that!

Why a fool? Have you ever heard of the saying, "the end justifies the means"? Perhaps he feels he's just teaching her a lesson, and the knowledge she receives in the end will justify the tears at the outset. Maybe he feels she needs to learn to quit whining so much or to quit back talking.

Obviously I'm playing devil's advocate here. But do you see how an individual can rationalize any situation? When all we have is relativism (you do what works for you, I do what works for me, and we don't judge each other), we are left to the mercy of sliding scales or the old mantra of whatever works for the individual. The only way for us to know if any behavior is wrong is if morality is transcendent over mere human opinion and not up for idividual interpretation.

I have to agree with Misscherie, what if to that person that is putting the pain or whatever it might be on to them considered love towards them?
This person he/she could have come up this way in to believing that to act this way or to show this type of emotion or affection towards this other person is how you show your love.
It might sound foolish but there are people that in their mind it’s an innocent act to keep them close to keep them "safe and loved".

Depending on how one is raised and how he/she is taught in their homes, apply to who or what kind of person they are.
It might be unrashenall or absurd but people’s individuality in thought is different.